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Respite For the Weary
Summertime brings new growth. For example, there is a crepe myrtle planted by our screened-in porch that I have watched spring up over the last couple of months. Morning by morning, when I go out to sit quietly on the porch, the tree before me seems to be one inch taller than the day before. (It "leafs" me amazed).
By observing this tree, these verses come to mind:
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:2-3
Likewise, in our front pasture, a cow just delivered a sweet baby calf that is getting sturdier by the day as he consumes his mother's milk. (I'm sure he thinks the milk is "udderly" delicious). Soon, he will be chomping grass right beside her side.
There is a Scripture that speaks of this as well:
...like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow... I Peter 2:2
These scriptures remind me that I, too, have the wonderful opportunity to grow... spiritually, day by day. I see in the above verses that the "common denominator" of spiritual growth is God's word. So I must ask myself, am I delighting in the law of the Lord day and night, or am I longing for the pure milk of the word? If this is the case, then I can expect something wonderful to happen. Just like a young tree responds to water by stretching its branches heavenward, and a baby calf responds to milk by growing more sure-footed, a willing heart responds to God's word by becoming more and more like Christ each day. As we grow, we will reflect His image, which is full of love and compassion, patience and steadfastness, faithfulness and joy.
My prayer for you and for me is to crave His word, take in and meditate on His word, and then obediently respond to His word. Then you and I (and the world around us) will see growth, beautiful and sturdy growth, that rivals the crepe myrtle in my back yard and the baby calf in the front.
And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them...Deuteronomy 4:19
Dear Lord,
Help us to realize that praying to the stars is as effective as praying to a lamp post. You are the only one who has ears to hear and a heart to respond. May we bow our heads, giving both our praises and petitions to you alone. In Jesus' Name, Amen.